The Russellville City Council will consider a resolution next week authorizing a contract that would allow design work on a new central fire station to move forward.

Russellville Fire Department (RFD) Chief John Cochran told the Finance Committee on Tuesday a Little Rock-based architecture firm did some preliminary spacial analysis work free of charge, but now a more detailed plan is needed.

Entering a Phase I contract will cost $25,000 and allow for renderings to be drawn up and for the development of a more accurate cost estimate, Cochran said. He said RFD has funds within its budget to pay the fee so no money will have to come from the city’s general fund.

The proposed station will occupy half a city block and will be roughly 18,000 square feet, according to Cochran. The Finance Committee unanimously voted to recommend the resolution be passed by the full council, which will take up the matter at its meeting April 11.

In other business Tuesday, the committee also recommended a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk sign a conditional offer for 10 acres of land to be used by the airport. The offer is for $119,000, which is the appraised value of the land and will be funded through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funds, Airport Director Bobby Day said.

Committee members also discussed the proposed 1-cent sales tax renewal and acknowledged a need to establish solid figures for projects to be funded through the tax.

Alderman Martin Irwin said he wanted to make sure needs such as streets and drainage are met before optional projects are funded.

“There’s a big difference between what we want and what we need,” he said.